Port Vale coach Danny Pugh says the club have to match their performance at Lincoln as they try to take a step closer to Wembley in the Checkatrade Trophy tie at home to Shrewsbury tonight (7.45pm).

Vale are three games away from the Wembley final, and will bank £40,000 in prize money if they can overcome the League One Shrews in the last 16.

The Valiants return to action for the first time since a 1-1 draw at League Two leaders Lincoln City a week ago, a game which was immediately followed by manager Neil Aspin saying he was considering his future following criticism from a section of supporters.

Pugh says Aspin's decision to stay is great news, but now the players have to show they can regularly hit the standards they set at Lincoln.

Read More

Speaking about Aspin's decision, he said: "It was a massive boost, something we wanted to hear. It gets everyone settled again and now we just need to kick on and continue how we played against Lincoln. That result and performance should now be a benchmark. We know how well we can play and it is just finding that consistency."

Vale have won all four games in the Trophy so far - beating Burton, Walsall and Middlesbrough under-21s in the group stage before seeing off Stoke City's under-21s 4-0 in the first knockout round.

Port Vale player coach Danny Pugh with manager Neil Aspin

Pugh added: "It is a big game. I think early on in the competition people take it quite lightly. I am not saying we have, but I think a lot of clubs do. But we are in a good position now, we had a great result in the last round and we want to win the game."

Former Vale midfielders Doug Loft and Anthony Grant could feature for the Shrews this evening.

Tyrone Barnett has joined Cheltenham Town on a free transfer after the Valiants and the player agreed to cancel the final six months of his contract at Vale Park. The 33 year old has spent the first half of this season on loan with the Robins, scoring five goals in 17 starts and nine substitute appearances.